Upper uThukela Water Fund (UTWF)

planned

The Upper uThukela Water Fund (UTWF) is an innovative initiative led by the conservation NGO WILDTRUST to protect a crucial water source in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The project focuses on safeguarding vital water resources through science, innovation, and inclusive community partnerships. It applies Nature-based Solutions such as removal of invasive plants, rehabilitation of eroded landscapes, and rangeland management improvements to enhance water security, job creation, food and water security, and biodiversity protection. The project also aims to conserve 32,000 hectares of near-pristine mountain and grassland adjacent to the Drakensberg World Heritage Site, establishing it as a formally protected environment within three years under the National Biodiversity Stewardship programme.